Jump start your summer with the crème-de-la-crème of culinary festivals, the Food and Wine Classic in Aspen. Each year visitors flock to Aspen to take part in this three-day extravaganza. Famous winemakers, celebrity chefs, and culinary luminaries will all be present and showcasing their favorite items.

Aspen has always been considered a winter hot spot for the rich and the famous and as such, Aspen New Year’s Eve marks the pinnacle of the winter seasons’ celebrations. A New Year’s Eve destination filled with magic, snow, fur, champagne, fireworks and luxury, Aspen is known for turning out a truly unforgettable New Year’s Eve no matter what your celebration style prefers. New Year’s Eve in Aspen wouldn’t be complete without the fashion adorned socialites, celebrities, street parties, and copious amounts of champagne. Whether you’re actively participating or merely observing, Aspen does not disappoint as a place to ring in the New Year.

This past weekend, Veuve Clicquot hosted a pop-up champagne event at The Little Nell. Guests were given clues to find the mobile champagne bar, "The Oasis," where they found free champagne and gorgeous views from Aspen Mountain once they arrived. The event was held 11,000 feet above sea level and featured free champagne flutes, Veuve Clicquot branded lounges, umbrellas, and other decor.

An exciting new boutique is opening in downtown Aspen this week. On Wednesday, June 15th, the designer Nina McLemore is launching a pop-up store at 611 Cooper Avenue. The company is already receiving tons of positive response before the doors have even opened. This is her 7th store – and joins New York, San Francisco, Nantucket, and others.The company also works with clients in private trunk shows and sells to some better specialty stores.

The constant festivals and cultural events make Aspen the place to be during summer months, and Fourth of July is no different. The holiday weekend is packed with parties, picnics, fairs, and performances!

These posts about Aspen will help you find the best Aspen restaurants, fun things to do, where to shop in Aspen, where the best Aspen apres ski is, and where you can find the best Aspen skiing, while staying at the Ritz Carlton Club Aspen.

The twin peaks of the Maroon Bells are claimed to be the most photographed mountains in Colorado. The South Maroon Peak and the North Maroon Peak are separated by a third of a mile and are located in the Elk Mountains. The Maroon Bells are about 12 miles southwest of Aspen, bordering Pitkin County and Gunnison County.

The Ritz Carlton Aspen Highlands is a Ritz Carlton Residence Club at the most popular ski destination in North America. This exclusive Club is conveniently located at the base of Aspen Highlands Mountain, providing the most seamless ski-in/ski-out experience possible.

It's only proper to pamper yourself when you're luxuriously vacationing in a place like Aspen. Here's some information about the local spas. You can go with your girlfriends, mother, daughter, significant other, or by yourself for a truly relaxing experience....

If you're staying at the Ritz Carlton Residence Club Aspen Highlands, then you already know about the amazing ski-in/ski-out fun to be had at Aspen Highlands Mountain, or the trendy apres ski scene at the Ritz's Willow Creek Bistro.

Aspen brewery Company is expanding its Aspen Brewery Tap Room. The new Tap Room will be moving into the space formerly occupied by Social Restaurant on Hopkins Ave. Since there is no kitchen in the new place, it will be a Bring Your Own Lunch situation. Opens by Thanksgiving 2010.

The Red Onion is Aspen's oldest watering hole. During the silver boom of the late 1800s, the Red Onion was a casino and saloon and known as "New Brick." It was remodeled in 1947 and given the name the Red Onion. This famous landmark became one of Aspen's first apres ski and late night entertainment venues - Billie Holiday even performed there once.

Brexie Brasserie is a traditional French Brasserie that serves simple, hearty French food. Brexi is owned and operated by Craig and Samantha Cordts-Pearch, the owners of LuLu Wilson and The Wild Fig. Brexi has a great selection of rare beers, a lively atmosphere with an active bar scene, and a great view. Recommended dishes are the steak au poivre and boeuf bourgignon.

This year's Snowmass Balloon Festival takes place the third weekend of September, from the 17th to the 19th, inSnowmass Village Town Park. This tradition begain in 1975, and is a famous fall event, known for how beautiful the colorful hot air balloons look against the changing fall foliage.

This year marks the 61st season of the Aspen Music Festival and School. Each year, 600 students and 200 artist-faculty come from around the world to play together with Director David Zinman. The Aspen Music Festival consists of 8 weeks, from July 1st to August 22nd, and over 300 performances/events. There will be orchestral concerts, chamber music, opera, contemporary music, master classes, lectures, and kids' programs.

Last week, ski fashion designers showed off their new collections at Aspen Fashion Week 2010 and demonstrated how function can meet fashion. Designers were all about high tech, waterproof fabrics that are chic, breathable and don't wrinkle in your suitcase.The week included apres ski fashion shows, screenings at Wheeler Opera House, and fabulous parties. The fashion shows were open to the public, and VIP seating was available for $100. Congrats to all the lucky fashion mavens who got the best seats in the house for this amazing event!

The Aspen Highlands, the locals' favorite ski spot, is 1,028 acres, has a 3,635 foot drop,119 trails and the longest run is 3.5 miles. Aspen Highlands (home of the Ritz Carlton Aspen) are most famous for the Highland Bowl, a favorite of the expert skier. Most of this terrain is only accessible by foot or snowcat. The best snow is usually found in the G-Zones and B-Zones are the steepest.

Buttermilk Mountain, home to the ESPN Winter X Games, is actually one of the best learning mountains in the country. It's perfectly groomed, gentle slopes and excellent ski and snowboard school make it perfect for families and beginners. However, Buttermilk Mountain does have something for the experts. The legendary Crazy Train Terrain Park, tellingly named after an Ozzy Osbourne song, boasts a 22-foot superpipe. If you're not at that level quite yet, head over to the Panda Pipe, or the ski/snowboard school's park, S3 Park.

It's almost time for the 28th annual FOOD & WINE Classic event in Aspen! This world premier culinary event boasts some of the most world renowned chefs' cooking demonstrations and tastings. If you're staying at the Ritz Carlton Aspen this June, you could see celebrity chefs, wine experts, and the Grand Tasting Pavilion (pictured below, right), as well as experience seminars about the latest gastronomy trends.

"Aspen, home to winter luxury, announces that the 2nd Annual Aspen Fashion Week will take place from March 14th to March 19th, after a teaser in 2009.

Aspen Fashion Week is a destination fashion event designed to showcase and market winter resort, ski and technical outerwear in the home and playground of the most stylish (mountain) winter town. With high-energy slopeside runway events, daily après ski fashion shows, in-store presentations, on-mountain events and late night fashionable soirées, 2010 will continue to be the hottest fashion, lifestyle and consumer event to hit the Rockies.